Richmond artist Maren Van Duyn, who created an ornament featuring Richmond’s Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park displayed on the White House Christmas Tree, is just back from the White House where the artists were honored. She works with Ron Holthuysen at Scientific Art Studio here in Richmond. Click here for an image of the ornament. Maren reports that Laura Bush showed up for about 10 minutes, the food was incredible, the Rosie The Riveter ornament is at eye level in the tree and the event was on CNN News.

For more information, contact:

Ron Holthuysen

Creative Director

Scientific Art Studio

500 B street

Richmond CA 94801

510 232 9629

sciart@rcn.com

Below is a press release from the National Park Service about the national parks ornament theme.

Replicas of the ornament may be available for purchase from Rosie the Riveter Trust. If you are interested in buying one, let me know via email.

National Park Service News Release

For Immediate Release – November 29, 2007

David Barna or Kathy Kupper (202) 208-6843

“Holiday in the National Parks” Celebrated at the White House 

(Washington, DC) – America’s national parks are the focus of this year’s elaborate White House holiday decorations.  The remarkable displays of “Holiday in the National Parks” highlight the majesty, history, and diversity of the country’s 391 National Park Service sites.

“It is an amazing honor for the National Park Service to be selected as the theme for the White House holiday decorations by the President and Mrs. Bush,” said National Park Service Director Mary A. Bomar.  “Mrs. Bush is the best champion for our national parks, and the beautiful decorations in each state room showcase the natural and historical treasures found in parks throughout the country.”

The holiday displays incorporate the wide variety of natural, cultural, and recreational features preserved by the National Park Service.  Models of icons such as the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Statue of Liberty share space with paintings of scenic vistas from Grand Canyon, Zion, and Rocky Mountain National Parks.  Holiday garlands intertwined with park objects including seashells, pine cones, and gold aspen leaves add to each room’s festive feel.  

The official White House Christmas Tree in the Blue Room is adorned with hundreds of handmade ornaments depicting national parks.  “Each ornament on the magnificent 18-foot Fraser fir was designed by an artist selected by the park,” said Bomar. “The ornaments tell the stories of our parks, just as our parks tell the stories of our nation.”

Another visitor highlight is a scaled-down, but architecturally accurate, gingerbread reproduction of the south view of the White House, a unit of the National Park Service.  Bush family pets Barney, Miss Beazley, and Willie can be seen frolicking on the lawn with moose, elk, raccoons, and other animals found in national parks. 

“National Parks commemorate the people, places, and events that define the American experience,” said Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne.  “I am so appreciative of President Bush’s efforts to recognize the important role of national parks in American society.  Our country will celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016 and the President has been instrumental in establishing a Centennial Initiative to prepare the parks for the next century.”

--NPS-